Various Thoughts from a Catholic husband, father, and software engineer

Wednesday, May 01, 2002

NOVAK, AGAINMichael Novak is one Catholic writer who has impressed me during this scandal. He has resisted the urge to pile on, scapegoating neither gays nor celibacy, but looking deeper to see what's going on.

Yes, he has his agenda, which is for a return to orthodoxy in Catholic sexual teaching. But I find his case significantly more convincing than the cases for getting rid of celibacy or banning gays from the priesthood.

Novak also includes some background on Cardinal Law, whom the press has managed to turn into a demon in many people's eyes. His good works do not excuse his mistakes, but this background may help us to approach him with more compassion. In our zeal to show compassion for victims of sexual abuse, I think that many of us have forgotten to show compassion for anyone else.